Biography and highlights of Guru Har Gobind Ji, sixth Guru of Sikhism

Guru Har Gobind Ji was the sixth Guru among ten Gurus of Sikhism. He was the successor of Guru Arjan Dev ji and predecessor of Guru Har Rai. In this article, you will read about the biography and life history/ highlights of life of Guru Har Gobind Ji.

Guru Har Gobind Ji (ਗੁਰੂ ਹਰਿ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਜੀ)

Guru Har Gobind Ji was the sixth Guru of Sikhism. He was born on 5 July, 1595 at Wadali, near Amritsar. He was the son of Guru Arjan Dev and Mata Ganga and became sixth Guru on 11 June 1606 as the successor of his father. Father of Guru Har Gobind Ji Guru Arjan Dev had passed through an unparalled example of martyrdom. Guru Har Gobind Ji was well trained in martial arts & archery.

An incidence during the Guruship ceremony of Guru Har Gobind Ji

During the Guruship ceremony of Guru Har Gobind Ji, he refused to wear the Seli (a wooden cord which is worn on head). This Seli was passing to each successive Guru since the times of Guru Nanak Dev. Guru Har Gobind Ji asked for a sword to Baba Buddha. Baba Buddha had never handled any sword ever before. Thus he mistaken in handing the sword on the wrong side. Guru Har Gobind Ji noticed this and he asked for two swords saying that he will keep two swords- one for power (shakti) and another for meditation (bhakti). In this way, he militarized the Sikh movement by wearing two swords: Miri and Piri.

Akaal Takhat by Guru Har Gobind Ji

Guru Har Gobind Ji constructed Akaal Takhat (Guru's throne) in 1606 in front of Golden Temple. He sat there on a 12 feet raised platform being decorated in princely clothes and having a look like a throne. Akal Takhat was built in front of Harmandir Sahib with the view that the Sikh person sitting on Akal Takhat should not forget that spiritual elevations are at the most priority to him.

Highlights of life of Guru Har Gobind Ji

• Guru Har Gobind Ji was the first Guru who was engaged in warfare.

• Guru Har Gobind Ji fought four battles in his life against Mughal rulers.

• He founded a city Kiratpur faliing under District Jalandhar, Punjab.

• He built Akal Takhat in 1606 which is one of the 5 Takhats of Sikhism.

• He militarized the Sikh movement by carrying two swords: Miri and Piri.

• The city which he had won from Mughals by defeating them in battle was named after him as 'Hargobindpur' in Majha region of Punjab.

• While his release from Gwalior fort after the imprisonment of one year, he insisted to release his follower 52 prisoners too. This day is celebrated as occasion of Bandi Chor Divas in Sikh religion.

• Guru Har Gobind Ji was very conscious in spreading Sikhism all over. That's why he sent his Sikhs to all far away places like Bengal Bihar to preach Sikhism among the people of those areas.

• Guru Har Gobind Ji never deserted the preaching of Guru Nanak Dev. He tried his best to spread his preachings to all over the world.

• He was the first Guru who laid an emphasis on the fact that all Sikhs should be saint-solider so as to protect the downtrodden.

Death or Jyoti Jot of Guru Har Gobind Ji

Guru Har Gobind Ji entered into Jyoti Jot on 19 March, 1644 at Kiratpur. Before his death, he had started training his grandson Guru Har Rai for Sikhism and appointed him as the seventh Guru of Sikhism.

Guru Har Krishan was the eighth guru of Sikhism. This article is all about the Biography of the child Guru Har Krishan Ji who demonstrated his wisdom in a number of ways and his selfless service to mankind. Also here you can come to know about who was the successor of this eighth Sikh Guru.

Sikhism is perhaps the greatest contribution of Punjab to the world. We offer you a complete Sikh wiki where you can find biographies of Sikh Gurus and Saints and Sikh tourist places. Learn about gospels of Sikh Gurus or Gurbani, famous Gurudwaras of Punjab and many more.

Guru Har Rai was the seventh Guru among ten Gurus of Sikhism. He was the successor of Guru Hargobind Ji, sixth Guru of Sikhism and predecessor of Guru Har Krishan, eighth Guru of Sikhism. In this article, you can read about the biography and life history of Guru Har Rai.